How to Make a Personalized Sketch Kit.
I love plein air painting and I love to travel but sometimes hauling my full plein air set up is not practical. For that reason I have developed a love of sketching. Since I began watercolor last year I also picked up the sketch book habit. A sketchbook can be any small book that you carry that allows you to make quick drawings and paintings. For some reason when I am sketching I do not feel invested to get a “good painting” and am more likely to experiment and play around. I also find the sketch book is invaluable reference for color notes later on when I am working in the studio from photographs.
A sketch kit is the book and the materials in which you use to paint. It can be as simple as a book and pencils or as elaborate as a mini studio with inks, paints, and brushes. I find that artists love to come up with practical and creative ways to sketch on the go and are generous in sharing their ideas on the internet. After scouring YouTube and Pinterest for hours I found lots of inspiration. I combined the best of what I saw and put together a kit that works for different mediums and allows me to sketch while standing or sitting. It weighs about 3 lbs with all of my equipment attached to it and I have had a great time walking around and testing it out.
Here are the basic components of a kit:
A book: There are many books out there and everyone has an opinion as to what is the best. I find that a compact size, a hard cover, and the ability to lay flat are three important considerations. Depending on what medium you are using will depend on what book you like. The classic Molskine watercolor journal is a book that fits all the criteria above and accepts a decent amount of water without wrinkling too much.
A Board: It is useful to attach your book and sketching supplies to a board, which serves as a portable desk. My board is made from Coroplast. It is a corrugated plastic that is lightweight, strong, and waterproof. You could use Gatorboard or some kits are made from old vinyl binders.
Stuff to attach things to the board: Velcro, magnets, silicone glue, guerilla tape and clips. All of these will help you stick stuff on your board. Magnets and Velcro with adhesive backing are especially useful.
Drawing materials: Drawing materials can include pens, pencils, and erasers. I use a mechanical pencil and black ink pen.
Pigment: watercolor, gouache, watercolor pencils, colored pencils. These are very portable mediums that need little preparation or clean up. The images dry quickly and stay safe tucked away in the book.
Brushes: Travel brushes are great. They are short brushes that fit in small palettes and the protective cover becomes a handle. Water brushes, which are brushes that have a water reservoir built into the brush, are versatile and solve the problem of carrying water around.
Water Container: Art stores sell small containers that clip on to palettes or you can use any small jar. I put magnets on the top and bottom of an empty spice jar. That way I have two water containers.
Cloth or Paper Towel: I use shop towel for clean up and for blotting my brushes
Bag: You can use a variety of bags or small packs to carry these kits around. I find a cross body bag is more comfortable than a shoulder bag. Make certain it is light enough and not too large where your painting gear will get lost in it. A built-in water bottle carrier is very helpful.
Sketching is the artists’ way of capturing their inspirations. Each sketchbook is as unique as the artist themselves so go ahead - experiment with sketching and creating a sketch kit that works for you.
A modified version with watercolor pencils.
A special note to the students of my upcoming landscape workshop in Italy:
We will have several full days of plein air painting but there will also be days where we will be on the go, like when we are touring the gardens in Florence or visiting the city of Siena. By carrying sketchbooks you can take notes that will help you capture the light and character of Italy. This, in conjunction with your paintings and photos, will help you relive your trip once you are home.
